BRAOU: Surging ahead towards greater heights
Vanam Jwala
Narasimha Rao
Hans India (25-07-2019)
At a time when detractors cry foul over falling standards of
education and regular degree holders look down upon those who graduate on
distance learning mode, an open university is going great guns, much to the
amusement of students and academician as well.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU), also known as
Telangana Open University, formerly Andhra Pradesh Open University, is a public
university in the city of Hyderabad. Of late, the University has been drawing
wide attention for its excellent services and high standards of education.
Undisputedly, the man behind the present success of the university is none
other than its present vice-chancellor Kusumba Seetharama
Rao.
Rao, who took charge as
vice-chancellor of this university three years ago on 25th July 2016, focused on
providing high-quality materials and learning support services. A network of
Regional Coordination Centres and Study centres spread across the two states of
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is in the domain of providing delivery services to
reach out to the unreached. This university as a premier institution of
distance education played a significant role to bring legitimacy to the Open
Distance Learning (ODL) system in the country.
To its credit, BRAOU is the
first established Open University in India, which has taken prime initiative to
implement Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) Pattern, to claim first chance of
curriculum and syllabus at UG level programmes from the academic year 2017-18
onwards. So far two academic years or four semesters have been successfully
completed and students of 2019-20 academic year are going to be the first batch
of graduates coming out from the University. For the first time in the annals
of the University three Convocations- the 21st, 22nd, and
23rd -were conducted consecutively benefiting students of 2017, 2018
and 2019 batches respectively.
New disciplines like
Statistics, Computer Science and Applications and Geography were introduced as
one of the disciplines and specific compulsory courses at Under Graduate level
as part of CBCS pattern. To expand skill education through ODL Mode Skill Development
and Career Planning Centre has been established. This Centre has identified
various skill development courses (at Certificate and Diploma Levels) basing on
the Guidelines of NSDC and other skill development institutions.
As a result, the
University has entered MOU, with Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) Centre Secunderabad,
Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) Pune and National Academy of Construction (NAC)
Hyderabad to impart skill education to the students of UG Programmes. These
skills based and oriented Certificate and Diploma Programmes add value to their
three-year general Undergraduate Programme.
As part of National
Digital Initiatives in higher education by Union Ministry of Human Resource Development
and UGC this University has strengthened online learner support services and
multiple gateways of payment services. A new modernised and upgraded University
website has been launched. In order to maintain the punctuality and promptness
of the employees and safety and security of the properties and persons,
administration has introduced bio-metric attendance system for employees and
closed-circuit electronic surveillance system in the buildings and entire
campus.
The University has
evolved its institutional Open Educational Resources (OER) Policy and launched ‘BRAOU Vidya Ghani an OER
Repository. Digitisation of study material of UG programmes has already been
started to provide soft copies of study material for the needy. Multimedia
(audio-video) form supporting lessons are being provided through web radio and
You Tube. Digital Onscreen Evaluation System (DOSES) has been introduced in all
UG and PG Examinations in order to make evaluation and assessment process cost
effective, fool proof and with required pace for announcing results.
A Committee has been
constituted to establish e-learning portal with effective Learning Management
System (LMS), and to evolve institutional IT policy. The University has entered
into an agreement and signed MoU with CDSL Ventures Ltd as part of the national
Academic Deposition (NAD) Policy of MHRD and UGC for the benefit and interests
of students.
Apart from
implementing various academic and infrastructure development programmes, the
University has organised numerous Extension Lectures, Workshops, Seminars and
Symposiums. Besides organising an
International Conference in collaboration with Commonwealth of learning (COL),
Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) and Government of Telangana
on “Current ODL Issues”, the University was able to organise All India Open
Universities Vice-Chancellors Round-Table Meet (RTM) as part of this
International Conference, to discuss on infinite potency of ODL system in the
present context.
The Vice-Chancellor of
the University during his tenure not only active in organising different kinds
of academic programmes and events of International repute, but also actively
participated in International RTMs of Vice-Chancellors of Open Universities at
Toronto, Kaulalampur and New Delhi and in a few International Conferences organised
at Symbiosis University, Pune and KKHSOU, Guwahati, Assam. The Vice-Chancellor
has an opportunity to be a member of National Task Force (NTF) Committee of
University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Accreditation and Assessment
Council (NAAC) which finalised assessment and accreditation policy frame and
criteria for Open Universities and ODL Institutions of regular Universities.
At present the
Vice-Chancellor Seetharama Rao is a Member of the UGC National Working Group
(NWG) on implementation UGC ODL and Online Education Regulations. Being a
member of this UGC National level Committee Vice-Chancellor has visited, as
Visiting Team Chairman and Member, Mumbai University, and Mewar University, Chittorgarh,
Rajasthan to assess the status and functioning ODL institutions of these
regular Universities.
This University has
effectively utilised the one-time infrastructure grant to the tune of Rs 20
crores sanctioned by the Government of Telangana besides developing lot of
infrastructural facilities that includes 300 kw roof top solar power plant over
the terrace of Administrative Block.
improving Quality of Research
Programmes, Introduction and expansion of Skill development, Reorganization of
Study centers, Promoting and developing Audio-Video lessons, Evolving
Institutional IT Policy, Internationalization of ODL programmes etc. are some
of the future proposed initiatives of BRAOU.
The Academic and
Development Programmes of the Dr BR Ambedkar Open University during the past
three years, are perhaps worth emulating by any other such academic
institution. The credit for all this should go to the Vice-Chancellor Kusumba
Seetharama Rao who possesses an excellent academic qualifications and
experience. Despite the tremendous growth under his stewardship, the VC humbly
expresses his sincere thanks to all his predecessors
under whose leadership this university was nurtured, fostered and developed to
be able to emerge itself as one of the prestigious institutions of distance
education in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment